Rating: 
Summary: The Deadliest Sin
Review: Moore was a first-rate writer in the Graham Greene mode who failed to engage the interest of the literati and is slowly fading away as a result. "Lies of Silence" is as good an example as any as to why he deserves better. The theme is sloth, the unwillingness to spiritually engage with anything that matters. Moore takes a typical disoriented, rootless modern type and places him in a situation where he *must* engage, then ruthlessly portrays the consequences of his failure. Moore's inference that our inability to deal decisively with terrorism is directly related to the contemporary spiritual vacuum was years ahead of its time, and is not going to lose its pertinence any time soon. Other outstanding works by Moore include "The Doctor's Wife", "The Mangan Inheritance", and "Black Robe".
Rating: 
Summary: Lies of silence
Review: Set in Belfast, Lies of Silence deals with the moral dilemmas faced by Michael Dillon, a hotel manager who is drawn into the political conflict by the IRA. He must choose between helping the terrorists to bomb the hotel where he works or saving his wife, Moira, who is being held hostage by the gang to force him to comply with them. The choice is complicated by the fact that the action takes place on the day Dillon plans to tell his wife he is leaving her to go to London to live with his girlfriend, Andrea, a researcher with the BBC. His decision has far reaching implications that play themselves out over the course of the novel, culminating in a horrific ending. Comment on the book: I think that this is a really good realistic book. When I started to read it I couldn't put it away; I wanted to know the ending. If you don't really know what is going on in Ireland you should read this book, because then you will understand. Of course, it is very difficult to describe the horrific situation in detail but I think that Brian Moore did a good job trying. Michael has a dilemma whether or not to identify an IRA gunman; co-operating with the police will almost certainly put his own life and that of his wife at risk. Refusing to co-operate will leave the gunmen free to strike again and kill more people and then Michael would be guilty of a 'lie of silence'. This also happens in real life. I have no idea what I would do if I were in Michael's situation. I wouldn't put my own life and my partner's life at risk by helping the police because I know my partner and I love him. I don't know the people that would be killed and I don't love them, but I would feel guilty for "killing" them. When I would help the police and therefore become a walking target for the IRA, the police will probably tell me that I would get police protection day and night. But I'm sure that that doesn't work and what kind of life would you still have then? On the other hand, by refusing to co-operate, I will leave the gunmen free to strike again and kill more people. Then I would probably feel guilty my whole life for not saying anything, and of being guilty of a "lie of silence". I really don't know what I'd do. And that's what I think is so good about this book and Brian Moore; when you have read this book you will ask yourself what you would do if you were in Michael's situation. Definitely read this book, you won't regret it!
Rating: 
Summary: not very captivating
Review: The novel wasn't very captivating. The story was very predictable, especially when you read (like me) first the last sentence of the book. I have to mention that I didn't like the end because it was too clear for me. I like endings where you have to imagine yourself what's going to happen now, but in "lies of silence" there is nothing what is worth to imagine. The minds of the characters aren't well shown. You get to know them only superficially and that's a great pitty. The book deals with the problems of the Irish people and when you don't know well about the situation and the traditions there like me, you don't understand the gravity of the problem. Patrik Schmid
Rating:
Summary: Quite a good read
Review: The story shows the situation of northern Ireland at that time, from the point of view of a couple who lives in this country which is always in danger of being terrorised. Beneath this they have their own problems in their relationship. I think Brian Moore showed this quite well. More and more the personal problems are left, or better mixed up with political moral questions (well, first moral questions are found at the beginning already). Questions must be asked, for example about going back to Ireland and testify about the kidnapping (it's a question about priorities, "shall I put us in danger and help a little to solve the problems of northern Ireland or shan't I?"). I find the story really well done, but I missed a bit the tension in it. Markus
Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings
Review: The subject the book is about is very interesting because it's about a conflict situation which is still actuell and in our area, in Europe. You're often confronted with that civil war situation which never seems to end. And it doesn't really matter to be informed about it. Actually the story isn't very good presented. But there are some descriptions which are very interesting and you can imagine the situations with all the things in the area. But it's necessary to read the book in one go otherwise it could be that you leave the context.
Rating:
Summary: So so
Review: The uncertainty which is given to Michael, disturbs the thrilling of the action. By reading the book we always expected a great end which in fact doesn't exist. It is kind of boring although you hope for a happy end, you know exactly what is going to happen. A great point was the act when Michael had to decide between Moira's life and the responsibility of the whole hotel.
Rating:
Summary: one of Moore' best
Review: This book, which was short listed for the Booker Literary Prize, is very typical of some of Moore's best works. The characterization of the three main characters, Michael Dillon, Moira and Andrea is brilliant. Each in a way a complex stereotypical actor caught in the lime light of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Michael, born and raised in Belfast is sensitive and bright and wants to fulfil his potential as a poet but is caught in the humdrum need to make a living because he married a woman, Moira, who's beauty he admired and longed for but who's mind he had never examined. Moira, was also raised in Belfast, and unlike Michael, longs to return to her birthplace. Bright, but vain and bulimic She is terrified of ageing but finds new strength and purpose when she decides to oppose the IRA. Andrea, a Canadian in England to study, cannot fathom the problems of Northern Ireland and only longs for peace and security with Michael Dillon. The plot involves the attempted assassination of Northern Ireland's Protestant leader, Pottinger, by having Michael, the manager of a Hotel where Pottinger is giving a speech, drive a car bomb to just outside the hotel room where Pottinger is speaking. Meanwhile the IRA thugs hold Michael's wife hostage with the threat of killing her if he does not follow through. Michael at the last possible minute decides to alert the authorities because 100's might die if the bomb goes off. The fall out for everyone, Michael's wife Moira and his girl friend Andrea and the IRA are taut and filled with suspense. Very good, well written thriller.
Rating:
Summary: one of Moore' best
Review: This book, which was short listed for the Booker Literary Prize, is very typical of some of Moore's best works. The characterization of the three main characters, Michael Dillon, Moira and Andrea is brilliant. Each in a way a complex stereotypical actor caught in the lime light of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Michael, born and raised in Belfast is sensitive and bright and wants to fulfil his potential as a poet but is caught in the humdrum need to make a living because he married a woman, Moira, who's beauty he admired and longed for but who's mind he had never examined. Moira, was also raised in Belfast, and unlike Michael, longs to return to her birthplace. Bright, but vain and bulimic She is terrified of ageing but finds new strength and purpose when she decides to oppose the IRA. Andrea, a Canadian in England to study, cannot fathom the problems of Northern Ireland and only longs for peace and security with Michael Dillon. The plot involves the attempted assassination of Northern Ireland's Protestant leader, Pottinger, by having Michael, the manager of a Hotel where Pottinger is giving a speech, drive a car bomb to just outside the hotel room where Pottinger is speaking. Meanwhile the IRA thugs hold Michael's wife hostage with the threat of killing her if he does not follow through. Michael at the last possible minute decides to alert the authorities because 100's might die if the bomb goes off. The fall out for everyone, Michael's wife Moira and his girl friend Andrea and the IRA are taut and filled with suspense. Very good, well written thriller.
Rating:
Summary: The author takes great risks and pulls it off...Wow!
Review: This novel starts out at a deceptively languid pace and then rivets the tension up in an instant. Michael Dillon, an average hotel manager, is planning to ask his wife for a divorce. On the same evening, his life is turned upside down when two men burst into his home and hold his wife at gunpoint, asking him to carry a car loaded with a bomb to a specific destination - that or his wife will be killed.
If you think the plot sounds formulaic, think again. It veers off in all sorts of unpredictable directions as Dillon's private life suddenly becomes very public, his wife turns out to be far nobler than anyone might expect, etc.
Think about what sort of choices YOU might make if the eyes of the world were suddenly turned your way and every move you made was dissected and analyzed under a public microscope. Fascinating look at Irish politics and the tension between public and personal loyalties.
Rating:
Summary: Trapped between two impossibilities!
Review: This story is set in the socio-political turmoil of Northern Ireland. However, it is not about the political issues, but about a very personal dilemma. The main character of this novel is poised on the verge of leaving his wife for another woman - leaving his homeland, family, and job as well. The night he plans to break it to his wife, they are held hostage by political terrorists who threaten to kill his wife unless he bombs the hotel which he himself manages. His responsibility for the safety of his hotel staff and guests comes up smack against his guilt at the impending abandonment of his wife, and responsibility for her safety. He is trapped, trying to decide what is the "right" thing to do. Love, guilt, terror, responsibility, and rage against a moral blackmail form the tortuous emotional landscape of this novel. A driving read.
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